Hi everyone! I'm Rika, a semi-international '28 from Japan, India, and Malaysia. I'm interested in studying women, gender, and sexuality studies, as well as public policy, global health, and biology while also being on the pre-health track! In my free time, I love to read books, cook and bake, play violin, spend time with animals, be sarcastic, and drink hot drinks (especially teas)! I'm so excited to share my exploration of Dartmouth with everyone :)
Sex, Gender, and Society is a class in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. It focuses on how gender and sexuality are represented in the media and explores different ways society shapes our perspectives. This discussion-based class features multiple group projects, which allowed me to meet and interact with many of my classmates, which was super helpful in my first term! Fun fact: this class taught me how to plan, film, and edit a podcast on campus!
In this class, we explored the different contemporary meanings of the 4 concepts; love, romance, intimacy and dating. What did they look like at Dartmouth? How were they represented or defined in scholarly research? Why are they important to the world and human interaction? Our classes consisted of thoughtful discussions, insightful lectures, and even primary research. The final project was a research paper that featured the data we collected as a class. It was a wonderful course that introduced me to the world of sociology and qualitative research!
This class was my first English/literature class and it was an absolute BLAST. Professor Jodi Kim provided us with so many interesting texts that explore the nuanced intersections of identity and sexuality, in various Asian American settings. Texts include M. Butterfly, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and The Necessary Hunger. Our classroom discussions were lively, filled with new and contrasting interpretations of quotes. I highly recommend this class!
SummerBoston, Massachusetts
This summer term, I decided to stay with my parents, who moved to Boston at the end of May! I kicked things off by spending a few weeks training to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and after earning my license, I took some time to recharge. I reconnected with family, explored Boston’s best food spots, and went on a few spontaneous trips around the U.S. with friends! Definitely a refreshing and memorable summer!
This was one of the most eye-opening classes I've taken at Dartmouth so far. As the title suggests, it was an introduction to a sector of academia that I had absolutely no experience in. This class taught me more than just what literature exists about disabilities, but also taught me how to think through, see, and understand the world in completely different ways.
This was my very first Quantitative Social Science (QSS) class at Dartmouth, and it's safe to say it was incredible! We dove into all things data; how things are (un)protected, tracked, and several consequences of unsafe data collection on the human race. We had really interesting readings and projects, like our self-tracking and quantification project. I know I'll be using the lessons I learned in this class for the rest of my life!
Kaveri and I met in the fall term of our second year. We were serendipitously assigned adjacent hoods in our organic chemistry (orgo) lab. We knew of each other, since Kaveri's on the parliamentary (parli) debate team with my best friend, Maeve (who you can read about here), but we had never properly met. After the first few weeks of orgo, we discovered we got along really well and became study buddies. Since then, we've been studying for every Orgo 1 and 2 exam together, and in the process, we've become really good friends. Here are some snippets from our chat.
Rika: Why did you choose Dartmouth in the first place, and more importantly, why do you continue choosing Dartmouth now?
Kaveri: When I was applying to colleges, I knew I wanted to be somewhere with more nature. I grew up pretty close to a city, so I felt like I had already experienced that environment a lot. I liked the idea of being somewhere quieter and more outdoorsy for college, especially since I could still access the city whenever I went home. Dartmouth also felt like the right distance from home. It's about three hours away, which means I can visit if I want to, but I still have that sense of independence and separation.
Another big factor was the size of the school. I didn't want to go somewhere huge where it might feel easy to get lost in the crowd. I was a little worried that at bigger universities it might be harder to form close friendships or feel like part of a community. But here, I found my people really quickly. I met some of my closest friends during my very first week of college, and I've kept building new friendships since then. Like with you!
The people here are honestly a huge reason why I keep choosing Dartmouth every day. I have met so many thoughtful and interesting people, and the professors have been amazing as well. The academics are really strong, but the environment still feels supportive rather than competitive.
I've also loved getting involved in different extracurriculars. I'm in Parli, and I recently joined the ultimate frisbee team, which has been really fun. Being part of those groups has helped me connect with so many different communities on campus, which has made Dartmouth feel even more like home.
Rika: Why did you decide to major in biology and minor in anthropology?
Kaveri: I've always been interested in global health, and I hope to become a doctor one day and work internationally. For me, biology and anthropology felt like the best combination to understand health from different angles.
Biology gives me the scientific foundation. It helps me understand things like how diseases work and how they spread across populations and even across borders. That knowledge is obviously really important for medicine and public health.
Anthropology adds another layer that I think is just as important. It focuses more on the cultural, political, and social contexts that shape health outcomes. Through anthropology, I've been able to think more critically about how healthcare systems interact with culture and community beliefs. It helps me think about how to approach global health issues with more awareness and sensitivity, rather than just looking at them from a purely scientific perspective. Together, the two fields really complement each other and help me think about global health in a more complete way.
Rika: What is your favorite place to get food on campus?
Kaveri: My favorite spot is definitely The Fern. They have really good London Fogs, which I get all the time. One of the fun things there is that you can make your own parfait, which I love. Their pistachio sea salt chocolate chip cookies are also amazing. I feel like every time I go there, I end up getting one.
Rika: What about your favorite study spot?
Kaveri: I really like studying in the Feldberg Libraryin the Irving Institute. There's this area with a bunch of double monitors, and it's perfect when I'm writing papers. I usually keep my research notes on one screen and my actual writing on the other, which makes the whole process way easier. It's also usually pretty calm and not too crowded, so it's a nice place to focus for a long stretch of time.
Kaveri and I, in one of our favorite Orgo study spots!
Rika: What surprised you the most about Hanover when you first got here?
Kaveri: Honestly, I was surprised by how much access there is to nature. It's everywhere. During the spring, my friends and I would rent paddleboards almost every weekend and go out on the river, which was such a fun way to spend time together.
Another thing that surprised me was how many different kinds of outdoor spaces there are around campus. The organic farm is a really cool example. It wasn't something I had experienced in high school, but they host a lot of really fun events there, and the space itself is beautiful. It is just a really nice part of the Dartmouth community.
Rika: What are you most excited about for next term?
Kaveri: I'm really excited for the warmer weather. Spring at Dartmouth is the best. I'm especially looking forward to Green Key, which is always a fun time on campus. I also can't wait to start spending more time outside again, like going back out on the river and going on bike rides with friends. I just feel like the campus becomes extra lively in the spring!
During my freshman year, I lived in the River Dorms as part of West House. This past fall, I moved to Fahey, one of the nicest dorms on campus. Keep reading to see what it's like!
Our first weekend in Toulouse took us to the medieval town of Carcassonne, where exploring historic ramparts, sharing regional food, and traveling together turned history into a communal and meaningful experience.
In this blog, I share how joining Ujima, Dartmouth's oldest hip hop dance team, became not just a creative outlet but a family built on collective work, responsibility, and love.
